Smart: Push of Miss

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterOct 12, 2024, 10:29 PM ET Close Senior college football writer Author of 7 books on college football

• Graduate of the University of Georgia

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he was trying to get defensive organizer Glenn Schumann’s attention when he shoved Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. in the fourth quarter of a 41-31 success at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.Smart pushed Van

Buren after the freshman was pushed out of bounds on Georgia’s sideline by safety Dan Jackson at the end of a 6-yard run with 2:55 left in the game.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated Smart had removed his visor and was yelling at somebody on Georgia’s sideline when Van Buren ran into

his course. He was

not penalized for making contact with the quarterback.”I believe I was pursuing Schumann,”Smart told reporters after the game. “I was trying to get Schumann’s attention. We were trying to change workers. I believe it’s the play they came over to our sideline and attempting to get Schumann’s attention. However, no, I don’t really remember it.” Van Buren finished 20 of 37 passes for 306 lawns and 3 goals and one interception in his 2nd college start. “I’m not actually sure what that

was but I was just trying to play my game,” he said. “I didn’t actually see it genuine.” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby declined talk about the incident after the game, saying he hadn’t seen what took place.